Andy Murray beaten by Roger Federer in Australian Open

Andy Murray was disappointed to lose to Roger Federer in the Australian Open but admitted “I wasn't expecting to come in and win the event," adding "it would have been completely stupid to think that,” referring to the back injury that's kept him off the tour since September. The Wimbledon winner fought hard but ended his quarter final against Federer 6-3, 6-4, 6-7, (6-8), 6-3 at Melbourne Park.

Federer, already a four-time Australian Open champion, ended the Scot’s hopes in a dramatic last-8 encounter that took 3 hours and 20 minutes to complete. He now faces Rafael Nadal in a mouth-watering semi-final clash that promises to be just as intense as the quarter-final. It could have been far easier for Federer but he failed to serve out the match in the third set and then missed out in the tie-break.

Federer is probably past his prime but he is still able to produce championship winning performances when he needs to. Murray isn’t the player he was following his back surgery and it will take time for him to regain his form but he still make things hard for his opponent. He saved six break points in a 19 minute fourth set game that was more about will and determination than outright skill, but he was always playing catch up and hanging on throughout the match.

"I was proud of the way I fought," said Murray. "I changed my tactics a little bit, started playing a little bit more aggressive, and that was maybe my undoing a little bit at the end, because I really started going for my shots to get myself back into the match. Then when I got broken in that fourth set, I went for three balls. Maybe one or two of them weren't there to be hit."

His opponent was just relieved to still be in the tournament following his third set slip up. "Andy played well and put the pressure on me so I'm happy to get the win," he said.